SuicideGirls turn pop culture sexy at Blackheart Burlesque

ORLANDO – Missy Suicide says that even fans of the Blackheart Burlesque will know their latest incarnation is a new show right from the start. “I’m really excited about the show opener,” says the Portland native.

Born Selena Mooney, Suicide is the co-founder of SuicideGirls, an online community for women to share pinup modeling and photography. Since 2013, the website has produced the Blackheart Burlesque, a live show featuring several of their models, which will be hitting the Plaza Live in Orlando on Saturday, Sept. 29 (9 p.m., 425 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando, $24.50-$64.50, plazaliveorlando.org).

The site was created in Portland, Oregon, in 2001, named for a line from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel “Survivor.” While SuicideGirls does feature nudity and live webcam feeds, Suicide says the focus of the site isn’t pornographic in nature. “If you go into an art museum, you’re likely to see more nudity than you’ll see on SuicideGirls,” she says. “We’re in this weird corner of the internet all to ourselves. We were a community site before Friendster or Facebook. There is nudity, but there’s nothing more. It’s like a weird adult-lite version of the internet.”

SuicideGirls was created as a forum for female body positivity, according to Suicide. It’s a mission that she’s seen grow in the past two decades. “The attitude toward women’s bodies, the acceptance of female sexuality and body image has changed dramatically,” she said. “Having some of that freedom has let us turn the focus from fighting so hard to prove that women’s bodies are not shameful to making sure the girls’ lives are enhanced so that they have the opportunity to earn a living or be respected.”

It isn’t just social mores in regards to women that have changed. “Also the internet,” said Suicide. “When we started, nobody would anything about themselves because it was kind of like the permanent record. Now our president is tweeting his random thoughts. I think the thing that has changed the most is I’ve become more comfortable sharing. Before, it was nervewracking. The world was a different place and people did not agree with my opinions.”

SuicideGirls gained a reputation early on as a haven for models with more goth and punk fashions, but Suicide says that wasn’t the point. “Being a Suicide Girls was always more about attitude than the number of piercings or tattoos,” she said.

The prominence of burlesque has also changed from the site’s origin. Blackheart Burlesque represents the second burlesque show the site has mounted. In 2003, a SuicideGirls burlesque opened for acts such as Guns N’ Roses and Courtney Love. Now, Central Florida is home to more than a dozen named troupes that perform from Daytona Beach to Tampa. Suicide says that this explosion has given them a lot of performers to work with. “You’ll see a very diverse cast in ethnicity and in terms of body types,” she said.

This time around, the dancers and singers are taking on pop culture from Star Wars to Deadpool. “It’s sexy and silly,” said Suicide, who was involved in picking the numbers that go into the tour.

While the audience is often more female than male, Suicide says everyone is welcome. “It’s a great first date experience,” she said.